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Every bride wants to
look perfect on her wedding day. Selecting a dress
that will make you look and
feel great is an important first step. But what happens
when you look in the mirror and notice trouble spots
like saggy arms or unsightly folds in your back?
When this happens it’s not uncommon for brides
to try quick-fix diets to help them get in shape.
Unfortunately, many dieting brides make fitness mistakes
that not only prevent them from reaching their goals
but also cause unnecessary stress and sometimes even
illness. Those are two things no bride needs! Here
are five of the most common diet mistakes as well
as some tips to help you avoid them.
1. Too much,
too late.
One of the most important things to remember if
you are trying to lose weight is to start early.
For example, don’t try to lose 20 pounds two
months before the big day. The key is to plan ahead
so that you can lose the weight (or just tone up)
gradually. So if you’re dream-wedding day includes
you being in great shape, then include fitness as
a “to-do” on your overall wedding checklist.
That way it will be a priority in your wedding planning.
2. Setting unachievable goals.
Many women get engaged and begin imagining themselves
drastically thinner or more sculpted. Be realistic
with yourself. If you’ve never been a size
6 in your life, then it is probably unrealistic to
think you can magically transform just because you
are getting married. And, do you really want to look
so different on your wedding day that most people
(including your fiancé) hardly recognize you?
3. Radical diets or fitness programs.
Brides typically are short on time and long on to-do
lists. This leads many to try unhealthy fitness programs
or starvation diets. Don’t be tempted by diets
that promise quick, drastic results with little effort
from you. You should avoid any programs that suggest
taking “diet” pills or eating unbalanced
meals (like eating only cabbage soup for a week).
And, don’t be lured into trying dangerous things,
like laxatives.
4. Not exercising.
It’s very easy for brides to say “I
don’t have time to exercise” or “I’m
too tired to exercise”. But diet and exercise
should always go hand in hand. Consider them to be
like yin and yang. Without activity your body can’t
burn as many calories. If you are very short on time,
try to exercise in small 10-minute bursts throughout
the day. And, keep in mind that little things help
too, like taking the stairs or parking at the outer
edge of the mall parking lot. Plus, if you are tired
from all of your planning, exercise will help give
you back some energy.
5. Skipping Meals
It’s not uncommon to get caught up in your
planning and then realize at 9 p.m. (as your head
begins to ache) that you haven’t eaten a thing
all day. While it may not be an uncommon scenario,
it is unavoidable. Not only is skipping meals unhealthy,
it can lead to binge eating. That often means eating
very fattening foods and/or overeating all at once.
To avoid this, try packing light snacks to keep on
hand throughout the day. Good examples include carrot
sticks, cheese strings, peanut butter on crackers,
etc.
Getting in shape doesn’t have to be complicated
and it doesn’t require a lot of time. If you
are trying to lose weight or firm up before your
wedding, below are some sample plans to help you
get started. Keep in mind that the most important
thing is for a bride to feel good about herself.
And no matter what size or shape, all brides are
beautiful on their wedding day!
Sample Exercise FITscription (to
receive weekly personalized FITscriptions that
provide details on
exercise type, frequency, durations, reps, sets,
rest time, etc. sign-up for a program at www.workoutsforyou.com):
- 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (3-5
time per week)
- Example: 2-5 minutes of brisk walking,
2-5 minutes
of jumping jacks, 2-5 minutes of squats (repeat
for 20-30 minutes)
- 20-30 minutes of strength training (2-3 times
per week)
- Example: Dumbbell exercises for both the
upper
and lower body (like bicep curls, tricep dips,
squats, etc.)
Sample Meal Plan:
Eat 5-7 small meals per day (meals should include
protein, grains, vegetables, etc. to meet the food
pyramid daily requirements)
Example:
- Small, grilled, skinless chicken breast
- Slice
of whole wheat bread
- Slice of cheese
- Mixed Vegetables
- Glass of Water (2 or 3 would
be even better)
Written by Lynn Bode, owner of WorkoutsForYou.com. WorkoutsForYou.com helps brides get fit for their
wedding day through affordable online exercise programs
that fit into their busy schedules. Programs are
completely personalized to each individual.
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